Reproductive Biology of the Smooth Dogfish, Mustelus canis, in the Northwest Atlantic Ocean

Shark populations tend to be highly vulnerable to overexploitation due to low fecundity and slow growth rates. Recent fishing pressure on the smooth dogfish in the northwest Atlantic has created a necessity for more information about their basic biology. Length and age at maturity, fecundity, and re...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Environmental biology of fishes Vol. 64; no. 4; pp. 367 - 377
Main Authors: Conrath, Christina L., Musick, John A.
Format: Journal Article
Language:English
Published: Dordrecht Springer 01.08.2002
Springer Nature B.V
Subjects:
Agnatha. Pisces
Animal and plant ecology
Animal, plant and microbial ecology
Animals
Autoecology
Biological and medical sciences
Fecundity
Females
Fish populations
Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology
Marine
Mustelus canis
Overexploitation
Sharks
Vertebrata
Northwest Atlantic
ANW, Atlantic
Atlantic Ocean, Northwest
Breeding season
Ovulation
Marine environment
Mating
Reproduction
Vertebrata
Sexual maturity
Pisces
Body size
Chondrichthyes
Reproductive cycle
Fecundity
Age
ISSN:0378-1909, 1573-5133
Online Access:Get full text
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Summary:Shark populations tend to be highly vulnerable to overexploitation due to low fecundity and slow growth rates. Recent fishing pressure on the smooth dogfish in the northwest Atlantic has created a necessity for more information about their basic biology. Length and age at maturity, fecundity, and reproductive season were estimated. Total length at 50% maturity was 102cm for females, and 86cm for males. The majority of females were mature at age 4 or 5, and all males were mature at 2 or 3 years of age. Females had an 11-12 month gestation with parturition occurring in May, ovulation occurring between May and July likely in late May and early June, and mating occurring between May and September. Fecundity ranged between 3 and 18 pups per litter, and was positively related to length and age, with a mean of 9.53 pups per litter. Sperm was found in the terminal zone of the oviducal gland of females throughout the year.[PUBLICATION ABSTRACT]
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ISSN:0378-1909
1573-5133
DOI:10.1023/A:1016117415855